One of the essential items in my healthy living regimen is aloe vera. Aloe Vera has been known as an amazing aid in digestion, detoxification, hair care and skin care.
Aloe Vera is 99% water based. It is also rich in more than 20 minerals, 12 vitamins and 20 amino acids. I keep an aloe leaf in my kitchen at all times, especially during the summer season when heat and humidity are at an all time high. There are so many aloe gels on the market but most of them contain additives and preservatives to increase their shelf life. Fresh is always best! You can buy an aloe leaf from any health food store or local grocery store. You can also grow an aloe plant in your yard depending on where you live.
Aloe also serves as a great addition to any beauty regimen because of its endless benefits. Here are some aloe’s amazing skin care benefits:
Heals and Prevents Acne
Acne, a skin condition characterized by inflammation, irritation, pain and itching, is caused when the follicles of your skin become clogged with bacteria. Aloe Vera gel has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that kill bacteria and reduce inflammation from those clogged pores. I cut off a piece of my aloe leaf from the thickest part of the leaf. I then take that piece and rub the exposed part on my face (small amount of gel will be oozing out). Be sure to concentrate on the affected areas of your skin. I usually apply to my entire face while paying extra attention to my problem areas.
Natural Exfoliant Base
Exfoliating is one of the most important things you can do to ensure fresh skin. Exfoliating helps to remove dead skin cells and speed up the healing process from acne and it’s scars. I exfoliate daily, sometimes even twice a day. Aloe also helps to increase the elasticity of the skin making it more flexible through collagen and elastin repair. I noticed my skin being much more vibrant and smooth after incorporating aloe into my skin care regimen. My skin has also healed much faster from breakouts than without. Here is one of my favorite exfoliant recipes: Mix 1/2 cup of aloe with just enough organic raw brown sugar to get a gritty texture. Make sure the texture is not too sharp this way you don’t irritate/cut your skin. Rub the mixture on your face or wherever else needs softening.
Holistic Remedy for Sunburns, Bug Bites & Cuts
Aloe is a natural emollient (moisturizer), helping to soften and soothe the skin. Aloe acts as an analgesic, acting to help relieve pain of wounds, sunburns and even bug bites. As mentioned before, aloe is a natural anti-inflammatory. If you have a sunburn just take an aloe leaf, place it in the fridge and rub the juicy part on the affected area. I usually get bit up pretty bad during the summer months and aloe has been a life saver. If you have small children as myself, this is the perfect and natural way to treat those pesky bug bites without having to use creams that contain harsh chemicals. It also dries fairly quick and its also clear so you don’t have to worry about your little ones rubbing it off as they would a cream. Aloe’s anti-fungal and anti-microbial agents also serve as the perfect natural yet topical remedy in preventing infection from minor cuts and scrapes.
How to Store
You should keep your aloe leaf in a dry cool place. I usually press the edges of the leaf together after cutting. This helps to minimize the cut surface and help the leaf heal itself. Aloe Vera has the ability to secrete and cover the incision with a fibrous slime. This slime immediately protects the inner gel of the leaf from contact with the air. After a short time it dries, forms an air-impermeable web of fibers and gets a reddish brown color. These fibers end up imprisoning the unaltered gel into the interior of the leaf, thus preventing oxidation of the unused gel. Just cut that reddish-brown part off before using. You can also refrigerate the leaf after cutting it or cover it with foil paper. It is recommended to use the gel within 10-15 days if stored in a room. When refrigerating, it is recommended to use within 20-25 days after cutting open. I usually use my gel within one week.
Overall, introducing aloe into your beauty or health living regimen can prove more beneficial than not. It’s super inexpensive, multi-purposeful and widely available making it very convenient to use as well.
I hope this post was helpful to you!
Healthy Hair To Toe <3
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